The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy six civilian ships that will participate in a group sail in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for the upcoming 39 th iteration of the “Balikatan Exercise”. This is the first time in the history of the annual war games that the PCG will join the maritime...
The Philippine government on Thursday, April 18, told China "to reflect upon its own actions" in the West Philippine Sea as it did not let pass Beijing's claim that it is the Philippines that is provoking tension in the waters. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued yet another strong...
The Philippines and the United States are set to hold next week their annual war games in the West Philippine Sea, among other areas, with more than a dozen countries serving as observers in the two countries' largest bilateral exercises. At least 16,000 troops from the Philippines...
The government of Japan will only send observers for the upcoming Exercise Balikatan 2024 which is set to begin on April 22. This was confirmed by Col. Michael Logico, executive agent of Balikatan Exercise, as he noted that it was “too late” for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to...
President Marcos on Monday, April 15, said that Japan’s inclusion in future Balikatan Exercises, an annual military activity between the armed forces of the Philippines and the United States, is a “good move.” Balikatan Exercise (File photo/ MANILA BULLETIN) “Now with the...
Gov. Marilou Cayco assured that there will be no live fire exercises in the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises this year in the towns of Basco and Itbayat and Mavulis Island in the province of Batanes. CAYCO “This is to inform the public that the province of Batanes, mainly Basco...
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Lt. Col. Nikolai Mendoza briefs the adjudicators about his team's action plan during the Information Warfighter Exercise held from April 1 to 5, 2024 at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of AFP) The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and...
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) cautions the public from believing disinformation online about the supposed arrival of military equipment from United States and China for the upcoming Exercise Balikatan 2024, quoting OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno. (Photo screengrabbed from Youtube) The...
Balikatan Exercise (File photo by MANILA BULLETIN) The 39 th iteration of “Balikatan” Exercise (BK39-2024), an annual military drill between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces, will be held on April 22 to May 10 and at least 16,000 troops from both...
Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (below, third from right) visits the northern frontier's maritime defense outpost in Mavulis Island in Itbayat, Batanes on Feb. 6, 2024. (Photo by Armed Forces of the Philippines) Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto...
Balikatan Exercise (File photo by MANILA BULLETIN) The 39th iteration of the "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) Exercise between the Philippines and United States militaries will be even "bigger" than last year, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). AFP spokesperson Col. Francel...
National Security Council Asst. Director General Jonathan Malaya (Screenshot courtesy of PTV livestream) The Philippines and Japan are expected to hold a military exercise similar to "Balikatan", a prominent drill between the Philippines' and United States' militaries, once the proposed Reciprocal...
